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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Alabama is home to several potentially dangerous creatures, including alligators, venomous snakes, and sharks. However, which one of these creatures is considered the state’s most dangerous animal?
According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the state is known for its rich biodiversity, which includes various types of animals, some of which can be dangerous.
Venomous vs. nonvenomous: How to identify dangerous animals in Alabama
While encounters with the animals listed below are not always life-threatening, it is best to avoid them in the wild.
Bears:
Black bears were once common in Alabama but are now rarely sighted. According to outdooralabama.com, black bears are primarily seen in areas just north of Mobile, with a small population appearing near Lookout Mountain, its surrounding counties and the Talladega National Forest.
Since the early 1900s, black bears have been responsible for 61 deaths in North America, according to bear.org. This amounts to less than one fatality every two years.
While black bears may not be inherently deadly, it is still advisable to avoid them in the wild. When threatened or agitated, a black bear may display aggressive behavior by lowering its head, raising its hackles (the hairs on its back), snarling, showing its teeth and drooling.
If you think you can outrun a black bear, think again. ADCNR reports that they can run at speeds over 30 miles per hour for short distances.
Snakes:
Six species of venomous snakes reside in Alabama: copperheads, cottonmouths, timber rattlesnakes, pygmy rattlesnakes, eastern coral snakes and the largest of them all, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Knowing how to identify these venomous species compared to a common garter snake could potentially save your life.
Across the country, between 7,500 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, only about 5 of these bites result in a fatality.
Spiders:
There are several venomous spider species found in Alabama, including the black widow, the northern black widow, the Chilean recluse spider, the Mediterranean recluse spider and the most famous one, the brown recluse spider. According to a-z-animals.com, spider bites cause 8 to 10 deaths annually.
While most people don’t die from spider bites, symptoms can be severe. The CDC advises that symptoms may include itching, blisters, nausea, fever and high blood pressure. Learn how to administer first aid for a spider bite here.
Alligators:
Alligator sightings occasionally make the news, especially when they are spotted in South Huntsville. In Alabama, alligators can be found in freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and streams from Mobile down the eastern coast to Florida and all the way to Texas. While Alabama does have alligators in some of its waters, Florida holds the distinction for having the most alligators in the United States.
In the past decade, only 6 deaths have occurred as a result of alligator encounters. All of these incidents happened in southern states, notably one in South Carolina where a victim was pulled into a pond by an alligator.
Cougars:
Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, are occasionally sighted in Alabama, but most of those sightings are likely mistaken identity, with the animals being domestic cats, coyotes or bobcats. The closest self-sustaining wild population of cougars is in Florida.
While genuine cougar sightings are rare, cougars still exist in Alabama. They are primarily found in rugged, upland hardwoods or remote mountainous areas where they can avoid human contact.
In the past 100 years, there have been 126 cougar attacks on humans, with 27 of those attacks being fatal. Fatal attacks are rare, even rarer than shark bites, lightning strikes or deadly bee stings.
What do you think is Alabama’s most dangerous animal? Let us know by submitting your pick to [email protected]!
